Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has denied media report making rounds that it is against the formation of ‘Operation Amotekun’, a security outfit formed by the six South-West governors.
Speaking through a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday and signed by its National President, Yerima Shettima, the group urged Nigerians to disregard the report, saying it had always been an advocate of community policing.
Shettima, in the statement made available to NEXT EDITION, expressed support for the newly inaugurated security measure in the South West, named ‘Amotekun’, “If the federal government cannot put measures in place to secure lives and property of Nigerians, state or regional efforts to secure citizens should not be opposed.”
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Shettima also said that as an advocate of community policing, he and his group had no reason to criticise the newly launched ‘Operation Amotekun’, as doing such would be counter-productive.
“I am an advocate of Community Policing, if I now come out to condemn the inauguration of Amotekun in the South-West that is counter-productive.
“So, I commend the initiative and I will encourage the citizens to cooperate with the system to ensure effective operation, which certainly will bring about secured society,” Shettima stated.
While urging the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) to come up with a similar programme constitutionally recognised to protect the North, Shettima added, “It is a good thing that even the North-West governors are already thinking along that direction.”
